Introduced in 1929, the Orchestra Model was the first Martin guitar shape designed from the ground up for steel-string playing. When the arrival of the dreadnought in the mid-’30s revolutionized both the Martin company and the modern acoustic guitar, OMs became less common as players chose louder, bolder guitars that could sing over other instruments. In recent years, though, the Orchestra Model has made a remarkable comeback in large part because of its even, balanced tone and smooth projection. Plus, the smaller body is way more comfortable in your hands and on your lap. The OM will take you wherever you need to go.
The OM-21 rolled out in 1992, and it features an OM body constructed of a Sitka Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood back and sides. The simple Style-21 appointments provide understated elegance, and they also keep this model cost effective.
This 2019 Martin OM-21 produces crisp, clear tone that is rich and refined. It remains nicely balanced across the register, and it has a quick responsive feel that follows the delicate nuances of your picking attack. Notes flourish with a light touch, but it can still handle a heavy hand. Its wide dynamic range lends a lot of versatility. Plus, it's a comfortable body size that is easy to manage.
This 2019 OM-21 is in beautiful condition, and the previous owner upgraded the saddle to a hand-polished unbleached bone saddle. The original plastic bridge pins have also been replaced with elegant vintage bone pins with abalone dot inlays. While they're nice-looking details, these subtle upgrades improve the tone and allow for inviting low action. Setup-wise, this OM-21 is an excellent player.
This 2019 Martin OM-21 shows some play wear here and there (especially on the back of the neck which has been rubbed to a shiny polish), but the frets are in perfect shape, and the guitar is very clean cosmetically. Most offensive is some string winder wear to the headstock edges. Other than that, there's not much to argue with—just a fantastic-sounding Orchestra Model with an awesome setup! Original hardshell case included.